The Southern tribune. (Macon, Ga.) 1850-1851, July 27, 1850, Image 2
Speech of Hon. It. B. RIIETT,
Delivered at Hibernian Hall, in the City
of Charleston, June 21, 1850.
(Concluded fren First Page.)
My friends ! I have been nineteen years a
Representative of the people, and twelve years
a member of Congress. During this time I have
watched with all the intelligence I possess, the
operations of the Government of the l niled
States. (I was no disunionist in 1628 and 1833 )
I desired to reform the Government, then tak
ing in the imposition of the taxes a departure
from the Constitution, which wou'd inevitably
lead,as I thought, and then declared, to a similar
departure on the subject ofslavery. I was sincere
ly desirous of saving the Union by enforcing the
Constitution, in the strong measures South
Carolina proposed, as any of those who resisted
them. In 1837, 1 want to Washington as a
member of Congress, and after witnessing the
operation of the Government for seven years,
in 1844, anticipating the repeal of the 21st Role
by which jurisdiction over the subject of
slavery would be assumed by Congress, I
came to the conclusion that it was imposible to
rtforrtltfie Government, and keep it within the
limitations of the Constitution. My personal
relations, as well as a sense nt duty, induced
rtie to communieHte my conclusions to him
vVho was ever esteemed in South Carolina
as her wisest counsellor and friend, and by
the whole South her mightiest arm of de
fence. lie differed with me ; and still thought
that the Government could be restored to its in
tegrity by a proper Executive administration.—
At last howaver, even he, as devoted a friend
the Union as existed within its broad limits,
before he died, desparired, it appears to me, of
reforming the Government. When he proposed
new guaranties to the Constitution, in the last
speech he delivered in the Senate of the United
States, it was practical declaration,that theGov
erdment could not be reformed, in the usual
course of its administration. The Constitution
as administered, was not enough, to protect the
rights and liberties of the South. Despairing ot
any reformation, which will bring the Govern
ment back to the limitations of the Constitution
—despairting of any amendments of the Con.
stitution which will give us new guaranties, I
see but one course left,for the peace and salva
tion of the South, —a dissolution of the Union.
There are but two ways under Heaven, by
which a written Constitution, establishing a free
Government.oin be preserved —good faith and
force. The former is implied in all contracts ;
fbr without it no contract would he made. If
our fathers who entered into the compact of
which the Constitution establishes, had foreseen
the present state of things in the South, think
you they would ever have made it ? Yet, when
has good faith restrained the North from any
violations of the Constitution, which their in
terest or prejudices have demanded ? And now,
that by the invitable course of things, the whole
power of the Union in Congress is about to he
transferred to the free States, hopeless of change,
which must be the destiny of the South in the
Union? By askilful use of her minority power,
between tile parties at the North she may for a
ftw years ignobly keep off the catastrophe ; hut
the fate of a slave country, under the dominion
of the free people of our Northern States, is hard
ly a nutter of-doubt or speculation. From the
origin ofthe Government whether from sheer
indifference to their faith, or a conviction that
they must become the fixed majority in the
Confederacy, (and therefore that to make the
Government of the IJ. S. omnipotent, is to make
themselves omnipotent in its affairs) consolida
tion has been their policy. “To provide for the
common defence arid general welfare” is in their
view ofthe Constitution, the only limitation it
imposes on Congress. And what “the general
Welfare'* of the whole Union requires, North
and South, with respect to slavery they have
not hesitated to declare. It is a nuisance to be
abated—a curse to be eradicated—a national sin
to be wiped out and atoned for ? Having
usurped- over it jurisdiction in Congress, the
subject of slavery never again I believe, will
<Wpart from the councils of the Union. Baffled
in one form in Congress, the North will bring it
back in another; until the South, weakened,
disspirited, and degraded, will \ield toemanipa
uon, or dissolve the Union. Looking to the
past—looking to the nature ofthings—l deem all
reliance on the good faith of the free States, to
protect the institution of slavery in the Sou'll,
vain and futile. The South must protect itself.
Its force is powerless in Congress and in the
Union, because it is a minority. To give to our
people that protection and peace which the
Constitution and Union waseslablishnd to secure
tile States she must sever the connexion with the
North.
If a dissolution of the Union is the stern
alternative to submission to a Government
Without limitation in its powers.it may be
proper to glance at its consequences, on
the physical prosperity of the booth.—
Such considerations are as nothing to the
great ends* of liberty and security, but may
well be alluded to in view of adopting this
alternative.
Is there then any thing the Union now
affords, which the South could not as well
possess without itl In the taxes imposed
and expended, we will be free. One-thira
the rate of duty vve now pay on the chief
articles of ouf imports, by the tariffof the
Union, will be amply sufficient for the
wants of Government, whilst all revenue
from taxation will he spent within our
selves. The voice of insult and accusation,
instigating insurrection wi hin our borders
wi'<f be hushed. By our physical power,
we can protect ourselves against foreign
nations ; whilst by our productions we can
command their peace or support. The
kevs of their wealth and commerce ate in
our hands, which vve will freely offer to
them, by a System of free trade,making out
prosperity theirirrtfcrest—our security their
care. The lingering or decaying cities of
the South, which before our revolution,
carried on all their foreign commerce,
buoyant with prosperity and wealth, hut
which now are otily provincial towns, slug
gish subburhs of Boston and New Yoik,
will rise up to their natural destiny, and
aciin enfold in tbeir embraces, the richest
commerce of the world. That desolation,
more sad than desert habitations or grass
crown streets, or crumbling walls—that
desolation which enters into the domestic
circle, and robs the hearth of the happy in
mates wfeseurround it—that worst of all j
desolation, emigration, will cease from
within our midst. Our children may live
with us, and rise with a rising country—
instead of that gloom which rests in the
bosom of every parent amongst us, who
look* around and sees all the avenues by
which his children may obtain an honest
and an honorable livelihood, choked up
with competition, new hope 3nd life will
fill his anticipations. Wealth, honor and
power, and one of the most glorious des-
which ever crowned a great and
happy people await the South, if she but
control her own fate—but, controlled by
another people, what pen shall paint the
infamous and bloody catastrophe which
must mark her fall!
I have thus, fellow-citizens, fulfilled
my word, lhave spoken with open breast
to you this night, of your present condi
tion and future political prospects. For
the sentiment I have uttered and the coun
sel l have given, it may he there are some
who are ready to exclaim—Traitor! A
Traitor to what and to whom ? To South
Carolina ? It is to savMV.j'g in her rights,
institutions, and I would
counsel disunion. Traitoftird St* Consti
tution ? The Constitution has no exist
ence, under the constructions of consoli
dation, and the base purposes of abolition,
to which it is made to subserve. Traitor
to the Union 1 There is no union with
out the Constitution ? That is its bond
and condition. Destroy the one, and all
faith to the other is absolved. Faitli to
wards both, as the Government is admin
istered, are incompatible things. To main
tain the Utton, is to acquiesce in the des
truction of tlie Constitution, and to
maintain the Constitution we must
dissolve the Union; to afford the only
chance of is restoration. But let it be
that l am a Traitor. The word has no
terrors for me. lam born of Traitors
Traitors in England, in tho Revolution,
in the middle of the seventeenth century,
Traitors again in the Revolution of 1720,
when under the lead of an ancestor South
Carolina was rescued from the capricious
rule of the Lords proprietors, and Traitors
again in Revolution of 1776. 1 have been
born of Traitors, but thank God, they
have ever been traitors in the great cause
of liberty, lighting against tyranny and
oppression. Such treason will ever be
mine whilst true to my lineage. But if 1
heat aright, I am not the only Traitor
these perilous times have produced. I
am surrounded by a host of Traitors
ready to strike for equality and indepen-
I edertce against those flagitious incendia
ries ; these teal traitors who would con
vert the Union into a bond of infamous
degradation, or a cordon of fire to con
sume the South. Returning from Nash
ville, through the interior of our State, 1
learned that the people of our upper Dis
tricts fearing that the Nashville Convention
would be a failure, were already agitating
the policy of South Carolina taking her
rights into her own hands, and acting alone
in their vindication. There was the true
spirit of old South Carolina, and I think 1
hear it proclaimed in cheeis, that she at
least will never submit to dishonorable
subjection arid ruin. She will join her
sister States of the South, or support any
ot them, in all expedients of redress they
may propose, and is content to follow
rather than to lead. But if they should
kneel down to a Government without lim
itatious on its powers, uniter the control
of the consolidalionists and anti-slavery
propagandists of the North she will not
submit. If Mississippi abandons us—
brave and true in counsel as in the field,
the first to sound the bugle, which has
called the South together for tlie vindica
tion of her rights ; and Alabama, where
so many of our sons have planted their
homes, and, as we have fondly hoped,
have aided in setting up in a richdr clime,
a younger and fresher liberty—a purer
and loftier hatred of tyranny : and Geor
gia, the Empire State of the South, proud
of her greatness and strength, but proud
er still of that f. ec spirit and dauntless
courage which never yet has quailed in
the maintainance of her rights—And
Virginia, the old flag-slip of the South,
to wh ini we will all yeild, if she yields not
herself, to lead us on to victory and re
demotion —geat in spir it and wisdom,and
unconquerable as she isgreat—and Kentu
cky and Tenesse not only abandon us, but
as some of their statesmen hare ven ured
to proclaim, shall join with Abolitionsts
to subject us to the dominion of the free
States, shall South Carolina submit 1 No
no, my friends'? Smal er States have be
fore us struggled successfully .for their inde
pendence and freedom against far greatei
odds; and if it must bo, we can make one
long, last deperate struggle, for our rights
and honor, ere the black pall of tyranny is
stretched over the bier of our dead liber
ties. To meet death a little sooner or a
little later, can be of consequence to very
few of us; whilst duty performed, may le
main in its effect to many generations, and
a fair fame, live forever. Looking to that
undying reputation which has ever follow
ed every people who have dared to pre
servo their liberties,and have conquered or
perished nobly in their defence ; instead
of shrinking, we might pant for the trial
which shall isolate South Carolina in this
great controversy. But we wish no isola
tion. We desire peace, we desire liberty;
that peace and liberty which the Consti
tution was intended to secure, but which
has been baseelv wrested from us hy
sectional fanaticism, avarice, and am
bition.
Accident. —The iron bridge recently erected
across Red Rivor, at Clarksville, Tenn., fell
down whilst a man named Parish, and his son,
were crossing it, with a load of cedar timber, and
the whole were precipitated to the bottom, a
distance of about sixty feet. The young mail
had his leg broken in two places, but not other
wise injured. The father was seriously injured.
The team consisted office horses and one mule,
all of which were instantly killed except one
horse, who nad both hind legs broken. Ihe
abutments and pier remained firm, therefore the
iron must have given way and bent until the
ends slipped off the pillars
Qjr’The population of the island ofßarbadoes
in the West Indies, is 792 inhabitants to the
square mtlo—a thicker population titan that of
China.
MACON, G A.
SATUDRAY AFTERNOON, JULY 27.
(CPAs the speech of the Hon. It. B. Rhett,
has been the subject of much animadversion
here, we publish a report of it furnished by him
self, in order that onr readers may examine for
themselves, which they can do at their leisure.
HTPWe would direct the attention of the pub
lic, to the various business cards of the Charles
ton Merchants, to be found in our advertising
columns. We advise all trading at that point to
give them a call, or they may “ go farther and
fare worse.”
sj*Wc have received the proceedings of va.
rious public meetings in different parts of the
State, at all of which, (except three viz. Lee,
Washington and Morgan, they having sanction
ed the “Clay Compromise,”) the Missouri Com
promise line was adopted. See notiecs in ano
ther column.
THE MASS MEET!XU IN MACON.
We direct attention to the call for the Mass
Meeting to lake place in the city of Macon, on
THURSDAY, AUGUST 22, 1650, signed by
a respectable portion of our citizens, which ap.
pears in another column. It is very generally
understood that Macon is the most eligible point
by far, for the gathering of the thousands in this
State, opposed to the projected sale of the South,
now being arranged by the Senate. The reasons
for preferiing Macon to Atlanta are so obvious
and unquestionable that no one will doubt the
propriety ofthe designation of Macon. At this
time there are vacant houses in a state o r erec
tion and warehouse sheds here sufficient for the
comfortable housing of fifty thousand men. As
ample accommodation as this no one pretends to
believe can be had in Atlanta. That city could
not afford shelter for half the number. We
have been assured by gentlemen well acquaint
ed with the feelings of the citizens of Cherokee
Georgia, that no serious objection is entertained
to this point as the place of assembling, and that
a large delegation will be prompt to leprcsent
that patriotic portion of our Statu in the Meeting
at Macon.
We appeal to the friends of Southern rights—
and to those men who, hating usurpation and
unwarranted interference with 6tate Rights, are
indeed the only true conservators of this Union,
to forget for once the pressing and selfish cares
ofthe daily routine of home, and muster such a
host as shall satisfy the timid, doibtingor disaf
fected that the thing is settled for good in Geor.
gia. Nerve, nerve is all that is wanting. No
handling of the nettle as if we feared its sting, is
to be allowed. We act safest for this Union
truest to our enemies as to ourselves, when we
teach all concerned that ttiflmg is to stop, and
when the line is toed that the hot work is to be
gin. Trifling, concession, &c , a putting off to
a distant day the stern resistance, has brought us
to what we are at.
Then Georgians rally, and in such style that
the North will believe—Give them the alterna
tive offair dealing and justice, or the bargain
that Abraham made with Lot-
Bibb Superior Court. — After a session of
three weeks, this Court adjourned to-day. His
Honor Judge Stark, passed the following sen
tences upon the offenders named :
The State, A Murder.—Guilty.
vs. > To bo hung on Friday, 20th
Allen, a slave. ) September, 1850.
The Stale, Larceny from tlie House—
vs. > Guilty Five years’ imprison*
John Fox. y ment in the Penitentiary.
The State 1 Bigamy. Plea of Guilty—
rs. > Two years’ imprisonment in
Alex. Pearle y the Penitentiary.
Latest erom Europe. —The Asia has arriv
ed with Liverpool dates to the 13th inst. Th e
market had advanced from the Ist to the 10th a
sd., or }d. each week. The sales for the four
days succeeding the sailing of the America, a
mounted to 54,000 hales, of which speculators
took 29,000.
THE NEW CABINET.
The following gentlemen have been appoint
ed by the President to compose the new Cabinot t
which have been confirmed, viz :
Daniel Webster, of Mass., Sec’y of State.
"Thoxas Corwin, ofOhio,Sec'ry ofTreas’ry
Wm. A. Graham, of N. C.,See’ry ofthe Navy.
David Bates, of Missouri, Sec'ry of War.
Nathan K. II all, ofN.Y., Postmaster Gen’l.
Jas. A. Pearce, of Md , Sec’ry of the Interior
"John J. Crittenden, ofKy., Attorney Gen.
'A later despatch states that these two gentle
men have declined and Messrs. Vinton, of Ohio,
and James L. Pettioru, of S. C , appointed in
their stead, which is quite probably.
Loplz passed through this city on
the 21st inst. on his way to the North.
UjpThe prisoners taken at Contoy have been
released by the Spanish authorities from their
prisons in Havana, and may soon be expected
to arrive in the United States
UjMt is said that the Cubans had in contem
plation the placing of bee-hives so as to impede
the march ofthe iuvaders under Gen. Lopez.—
This new mode of warfaro reminds us of the
suggestion of a certain member of the Georgia
Legislature, from the wire-grass region some
thirty odd years ago, of abandoning the use of
the “ villainous gunpowder," and substituting
therefor the common Jlail sticks used in thrash
ing out rice, by which an army could crack the
shins of their enemies provided they could get
within striking distance. The General that
could lead his men, thus equipped, to victory,
would certainly beelected President of the Uni
ted States
(£j*Tlie Hon. John W. Hooper has been ap.
pointed hy Gov. Towns, Judge of the Superior
Court of the Cherokee Circuit, vice Hon. A. R-
Wright, resigned.
UjTAdam Ramage, the invtorof the celebra
ted Ramago Printing Press, died at Philadelphia
on Suesday, aged eighty yers.
MR. CHAPPELL'S LETTER.
This i3 indeed a most singular production, and
we can never cease our wonder how one of Mr.
Chappell's well known balance of mind could
commit himself, in such a moment as this,
to arguments so irrelevant and inconsequential,
as abound in this letter. For the pest, it is our
inclination to be perfectly respectful to Mr.
Ciiappei.l, and while differing with hint so
widely, in every point he has made, that no
qualification seems necessary, we yet ascribe to
him pure and amiable motives. But, in alluding
for the last time to the style, the argumentation
and the spirit of this paper,' we merely repeat
what almost all the old friends ofMr. Chappell
unite in, that it is not the thing exactly that we
used to have from his hand. But this is not
what the public have the most interest in, or
what, as men interested in the duties ofa public
press, we feel called on to notice. This is a long
letter —entirely too long—too diluted, and want
ing in condensation. Wo cannot be expected to
notice every point made in seven mortal columns,
when very many of these points are extremely
far-fetched, and in our judgment, have hut little
bearing upon the main question, evoking this
discussion. That question, as we regard it,
being the comparative degree of acceptability to
the South of Mr. Clay’s plan, and the Nash
ville Convention plan. Therefore, after noticing
the argument upon which Mr. Ciiappeli. has
prodigally wasted the three opening columns of
his finest writing, we shall take his own recapitu
lation, given by himself, ofthe sum and substance
of this letter.
The first point raised, to which is given such
exceeding prominence is, that as the Democratic
party were the promoters of the Texas annexa
tion, that consequently all the results of that
measure are fairly chargeable to that party-
And that, therefore, we should support Mr.
Ci-ay's plan as the grand remedy for the evils
and distractions attendant upon that great tnea
sure. Strange to say, this is gravely insisted on,
though Mr. Chappell repeatedly in detail jus
tifies, and indeed lauds the Democratic party,
fur its agency' in maturing this measure of an
nexation. Name any one thing connected with
this matter, and we were right, in Mr. Chap
pell’s judgment. Was annexation just, politic,
opportune ? Yes. Was defensive war with
Mexico just, politic, opportune ? Yes Was
die Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo just, politic,
Opportune ? Did the Democratic party roll,
plunder, steal from Mexico or the free Boilers
sither by this Treaty ? lie would not say it at
ill. All right, hut indeed, we of the South are
truly and awfully responsible for all the deviltry
which has grown out of these measures—Cali
fornia admission — T. B. King’s treason to his
own home —a Southern President's betrayal of
us—Northern fanaticism that sharpens its beak
to devour us—peril to the Union—every thing,
every thing is fairly chargeable to us. We were
right in every single step until yon come to sum
up, aud then we were all wrong. Yes the eggs,
each one of them is good, but then mind how
you put them together in a basket, for Mr
Chappell will not touch one of them—they
will then be all rotten. Why this is the sort of
logic by which the clown proves that an eel pie
;s a pigeon. An eel pie is a fish pie, quoth he.
Granted. Then a jack pie is a fish pie, and if
you admit this, then it follows that a jack pie is a
John pie and is not a John pie, a pie John,Q- c.d ?
Surely Mr. Chappell must see that if his
premise is here well taken, that you may prove
that the Author of all good himself, is responsi
ble for crime and should expiate the whole dark
account of human iniquity. Let measures stand
or fa!! by their legitimate consequences. And
in the name of justice, do not include all the
villainies that ever may happen in this world
of a later date, among these legitimate cousequen
ccs. But could it have been shown to us at the
time ofannexation, that all the monstrous sin
against this down-trodden South that has been
perpetrated against it and is now meditated,
would have followed fast upon the heels of this
measure, we yet contend that that Southern man
who would have been frightened from so just
and proper a step by this prophetic warning
would not have been fit for his trust. In all
such cases there is but one safe guide—prosent
duty is ours—events belong to God. And we
here take occasion to deny, and we do it flatly
unequivocally and with unction, what Mr.
Chappell gives as a part of the history of an.
nexation by tbo war. He states as a thing un.
deniable that it was clearly seen before Mexican
annexation, that there would be a fearful sec
tional struggle on the application of the anti
slavery restriction to these acquired territories
No man can fail to remember that vve were too
engrossed in the vicissitudes, the glory and the
griefs of that struggle, to be attending to free
soil robbery. The whole country was too shock
ed at the unparalleled baseness of Tom Corwin
and bis flee soil confederates, to give any heed
to such a school of miscreants or value what
they might or would do. But the simple fact
that the Senate of the United State*, sitting in
solemn judgment on this treaty, did by a large
vote, (only fifteen voting affirmatively,) repudi
ate all connection with the Wilinot Proviso, in
this measure of territorial annexation, proves
what the popular sentiment was. But if our
recollections of what was expected to be done in
regard to the allotment of the acquired domain
are not wofully wrong, we are suro all Southern
men looked fora quiet adjustment upon the old
line of 36 degrees 30 minutes of North latitude,
or the adoption of that long respected basis of
division, whenever practicable. But, however
we may differ in our impressions of what was
and was not the history of the popular mind on
this matter, we can tell Mr. Chapplll what teas
true beyond all controversy, that at that day no
Southern man, not one, could he found daring
enough in his alarms for this “glorious Union,”
to counsel his people that after shedding blood
and offering treasure as we did for the fruits ot
the war, to yield to the cupidity or to the sancti
monious robbery of the North, one solitary foot
of what should be conquered. This magnani
mous self-devotion was an afterthought of
pauiots, whose hearts are ready to break, at all
times, at thoughts of disruption of the party
unity.
But we come to Mr. recapitula
tion of the material point 9 of his argument, and
our notice shall be more brief even than his sum
mary. But before we do this, we can but say,
that no words can adequately express our morti
fication that in all this letter not one word of
warning or reprobation could be spared for the
odious interference with slavery in the District
of Columbia— not one.
First then, Mr. Chappell with oracular dog
matism, declares we must support the bill of the
Committee to prevent the admission of Califor
nia as she is, by a separate bill, this admission
contributing to a like admission of the two re
maining Territories. Well, we ask in the name
of common or uncommon sense, what sort of
difference can it make to us, if California is to
be smuggled by a grand swindle into the Union
as she is, whether she is introduced by a single
or an “omnibus bill,” unless the latter shall in
clude in its multifarious lumber some equiva
lents for this concession. There can be no dif
ference whatever Mr. Chappell, it is true,
seem* to think that preventing New Mexico and
Utah from following the lead of California, would
make a part of these equivalents. Suppose they
would, who guaranties this ? Can any old. Mi
ssouri Compromise man 9 Would nny man in
Congress do this though the bill parses, when it
is well known that a majority in Congress de
clares that though we may be morally bound to
a compromise, we are not legally bound ?
But next, we must pass the bill or stain our
souls with the crime of promoting anarchy in
the Territories. This ground astounds us, when
we see it assumed and so stubbornly defended
by a thorough Cass man and the new admirer
and supporter of Mr. Clay. In the first place,
the world knows that Gen. Cass stakes his all
upon the doctrine that the territories can and
should legislate for themselves. Yea on ever 1/
question, for ho has lately scandalized his old
Nicholson Letter supporters hero, by disavowing
their construction of that letter restricting legis
lation on slavery until the territories have past
their territorial state. Then, ifthe territories do
without law, it is their choice, and so good a
friend to the let-alone doctrine as M r. Chappell
should have nothing to do with this. But if this
were not so, what does Mr. Chappell do with
his friend's doctrine of the “ lex loci?" Mr.
Clay holds, and Gen. Cass too, for all we know,
that this law is strong enough to ride rough-shod
over these Southern States to make the consti
tution a nullity as to their protection—Then pray
why not over the Wiretank and Kickapoo In
dians ? All agree, Southern men and all, that
so much of the old law stands us is necessary to
protect these people from these deplorable evils
of anarchy, and we must therefore regard this
argument as a sympathy trap. It twill take no
thing but gulls or surrender men, however..—
We hope this point is fully met.
Next—“We must," or the territories will ho
kept open as afield for the .dboiitionists to work
in and our friends at the North will be cut down
to a corporal’s guard,” &c. We will take this
argument and rely on it to sustain the basis pro
posed by the Nashville Convention, and to over
throw Mr. Clay’s plan forever, at least with
Southern men. First—How do we fence out the
Abolitionists by Gen. Cass’ plan ? How by Mr
Clay's doctrine of the "•lex loci?" Solemnly
we appeal to every Southern man and ask him
does he hope for repose or for equal rights under
the operations of this bill, which seems to have
been framed to meet these doctrines? Mr.
Chappell well remarks in this letter how chary
men holding property are in risking their pro
perty amid uncertain laws. And w o declare our
belief that the Wilmot Proviso itself would noi
tend more surely to deter the Southern slave
holder from taking his property to the new ter.
ritory, than doe* the uncertainty in which the
local law has been involved by free soil states
men. Certainly nothing in the silence of Mr.
Clay’s bill on slavery—in Gen. Cass’ new edi
tion of the Nicholson Letter—or in the great
Chairman's notion ofthe “ lex loci," can “shut
out" the abolition excitement. These things
may shut it in however, and give us peace as one
who is broken down and conquered gets it.—
We said this argument contradicts and does not
support what Mr. Chappell seeks to prove.—
For if we propose by compromise to settle any
thing, let the compromise commit the honor of the
parties. Here is the grand point made in com
promises for we all know that the mere law o!
compromise, settles nothing. But if vve wish
to save our friends North, who desire to help us,
our first duty to them is to place them “in vin
culcs,”—morally speaking, to put them in such
bonds that public opinion—instructions from
constituents, nor nothing elso shall release them
so long as personal honor is worth a rush to
them. In this way vve have Mr. Webster last
upon the Texas States admission, and when lie
flies from his word in this committal, ho would
not pass muster at Botany Bay for honesty. No
doubt ifthe truth was known, these Northern
men, who sincerely desire to aid us against their
own friends, above all things, pant for some cer
tain and well expressed obligation on their part,
not left doubtful, os now proposed by the “ Sur
render Bill,” but set forth by metes and bounds.
It is true that one with the soul of a dog-like
Seward, can be bound by nothing. Such men
would have sold their Lord and Master for thirty
pieces of silver, and stand ready to sell their
country now/or much less. But there are men
who think that truth and honor are something
besides nets to ensnare tiro unwary. Then we
say for the sako of shutting out abolition from
the territories—for the sake of re-assuring South
ern men, and saving our friends at the North,
let the country once more be fully, fairly com
mitted to the Missouri Compromise line.
But we pass on. “We must shut up this
stamping ground of free soilors, or the Union is
gone,” Ac. This ground is virtually the same
as the last, and we think we have answered it.
Next. “Wo must as Southern Democrats, to
prevent oar measures from bringing ruin on the
country, and shame on ourselves.” This too,
we have commented on, and leave it to confute
itself. One word in conclusion If Mr. Chap
pell had disavowed party considerations in this
argument, we should have been the last 'o have
introduced them. But this he has not done, and
in this connexion we may say, that if the f oes
of Democratic politics have not convicted Dei U .
ocrats of political incapacity and of recklessly
tampering with the salvation of this people, Mr
Chappell has. We here declare, if half t| )a t
this letter charges upon Democracy is just it
deserves to be swept from the earth like a
plague. But ready and anxious as we are to see
all party sub-divisions South, absorbed into tb c
one great State Rights and Southern Rights Part „
we yet sec nothing to be ashamed of in the con-’
duct of the Democratic party, so far as the pre
sent controversy goes—nothing that should have
been suspended or arrested, ifthe power of des
tiny had been in our hands, and now it has hap
pened, least of all do vve behold in the past
errors, that can only be atoned for by a base sur’
render of our just rights, because surrender is
the “best wo can do.”
As to the great bugbear of geographical parties
They now exist-notoriously rallying upon the
anti-slavery issue. What Southern man not
absolutely committed to our destruction, can
ever hope for a party nomination or election >
The day is past when this can be hoped for.—
We do not lament it. The loss of constitutional
freedom grieves us far more. But if the dis-o
lution of this Union by sectional parties is to be
averted, it is by a prompt and unshaken rally of
the entire South upon her ultimatum. This
will satisfy the guilty spoilsmen who are seeking
to devour us, that one side or the other must
have our aid. The weaker of the contending
parlies,made up of the majority, will inevitably
sooner or later, be our friends, if not for love
they will for money And although it is true in
this state of things, the South may never again
hope for the first place, yet she may dictate it,
and hold the second for herself. But no one
who wishes to speak the truth honestly, but well
knows that there is already two geographical
pnrties here. One that seeks to force on as a
moral purgation from a “great sin—the sin of
slavery”—and another party that intends to de
fend itself from the power and despotism of
propagandists. There are two parties here.—
One to produce and another to enjoy. Two
geographical parties. One among which all
social, moral and intellectual excellence is to re
side—and one that is to have none of it. Two
parties now exist, and Mr. Chappell knows it.
One, whose vocation is to snub the Constitution,
to break down its checks against injustice and
cupidity —and another which note has nothing
to hope for, but what little it may save from the
wreck of that noble work, that once we looked
to as the ark of our safety.
Railroads in the United States. —The
first charter for a Railroad in ibis country was
granted by New Jersey. The Legislature, at the
session of 1614-15, chartered llio New Jersey
Railroad Company to build a road four rods
wide from the River Delaware, near Trenton,
to the river Raritan, near New Brunswick—
The country was not then prepared for the
enterprise, and the work was abandoned. The
honor of introducing railroads was resevrved
for Massachusetts, and the first road that was
built on tins esntinent, was the Ciuincy Rail
road, from the quarry to N'eponset river, which
was first used in the year 1827.
There are now, in the United States 7G77
miles of railroad ;of which 2465 are in New
England,2sl9 in the middle States, 154!) in t ho
Southern States, and 1153 in the western and
south-western States.
The Federal Union states tint a meeting of
the friends of a Railroad connecting Eatonton
with Milledgoville was held at the former placo
have the stock taken, who are to report as early
as practicable. The Central Railroad it says
has agreed to furnish the iron for the road, in
payment of stock.
Plank Roads. —These roads we think arc
destined to become quite common throughout
the country. A large meeting was recently held
at Newport, Florida, at which SIB,OOO worth of
stock was subscribed to construct a plank road
from that place via Tallahassee, to Tliomasville,
Thomas county, Ga., and thenro to Albany;
from the latter town Messrs. Platt and Till,
were present. We think it quiie probable this
road will be built—and if ?o, we think it would
be advisable to extend it to this city, for which
object we have no doubt large suhscriplions
could be obtained here. It would be well for
our citizens to consider this subject, as such a
road, when completed, would add considerably
to the trade of our merchants.
O’Mr. G. W. Crawford addressed a note
to the Speaker of the House of Representatives
on the 16th inst., requesting that body to insti
tute legal proceedings against him to recover tho
interest nr any portion of the Galphin claim re
ceived by him. At the same time he gave the
assurance that he would not interpose delay or
raise in his “defence any oilier question than the
proper construction of the Act for tho relief of
Milledge Galphin, executor of the last will end
testament of George Galphin, doccnsed, approv
ed August 14, 1848.”
[jjr’The ship Charles Carroll, from Boston
will bring to Charleston, S. C., in a short time,
about three hundred Irish laborers to work on
the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, which
has been put under contraet for its entire length
l—
O’Tlte Governor and Council of Boston h a '°
refused the petition for the pardon of Professor
Webster, and the time of his execution is fi xc
for Friday, 20th August next.
The Huntsville (Alu.) Dcmocrrt of the R'jj
instant,says “The crops have greatly • nl P r °' 1
within the last three weeks. Cotton has h< t ‘ n
stimulated to a too rapid growth hy the coni'' 111
rains. Corn looks fair and promises an av<rn
yield. The farmers complain greatly pf '
grass, which is difficult to keep under "i ll
rain every day.”
Jjf’The wheat crop of the present )'" ar m
West is represented as being.the latest
made